Integral casket handle and base with concealed hinge

ABSTRACT

A casket handle integrally connected to a base by means of a concealed hinge. A flexible wall having laterally extending grooves on either side of the wall is integrally connected to a base securable to a casket. The flexible wall is also integrally connected to a second wall having arms and a carrying bar integrally attached thereto. A curved lip extends outward and downward from the base cooperatively with the second wall concealing the flexible wall when the carrying bar and arm are pivoted forward of the base.

United States Patent Johnson 1 1 INTEGRAL CASKET HANDLE AND BASE WITH CONCEALED HINGE [72] Inventor: Bennie R. Johnson, R. R. 3, Connersville, 1nd. 47331 221 Filed: Dec. 30, 1970 211 Appl.No.: 102,611

[52] U.S. Cl ..l6/Il2, 220/94 A, 16/126, 27/2 [51] Int. Cl ..A47b 95/02, B65d 25/28 [58] Field of Search...27/2; 16/110 R, 111, 112, 114, 16/123,125, 126, 127,150; 190/39, 57;

- [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 617,103 l/1899 Klein ..l6/ll2 958,114 5/1910 Hammond ..16/112 1,421,848 7/1922 Seastrom ..16/1l2 4/1934 McClelland ..16l112 51 Oct. 17,1972

3,382,526 5/1968 Ryan et a1. ..16/110 R 3,387,732 6/1968 Jellies ..220/94 A 3,388,611 6/1968 Clary et a1. ..16/150 3,481,501 12/1969 Anderson ..220/94 A 3,581,928 6/1971 Amand ..220l94 A Primary Examiner-Bobby R. Gay Assistant Examiner-Peter A. Aschenbrenner Attorney-Woodard, Weikart, Emhardt & Naughton [57] ABSTRACT A casket handle integrally connected to a base by means of a concealed hinge. A flexible wall'having laterally extending grooves on either side of the wall is integrally connected to a base securable to a casket. The flexible wall is also integrallyconnected to a second wall having arms and a carrying bar integrally attached thereto. A curved lip extends outward and downward from the base cooperatively with the second wall concealing the flexible wall when the carrying bar and arm are pivoted forward of the base.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures INTEGRAL CASKET HANDLE AND BASE WITH CONCEALED HINGE BACKGROUND or THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention I This invention is in the field of handles.

2. Description of the Prior Art A largenumber of handles have beendevised for attachment to caskets. The prior art casket handles have a first piece securable to the casket and a second piece shaped in the form of a handle and connectable to the first piece. In order to reduce the cost of these handles, it is desirable that these casket handles be produced from plastic materials in lieu of metal and .also for the entire casket handle and base to be molded in one integral piece. The invention disclosed herein utilizes a flexible wall for integrally and hingedly connecting the handle portion to the base portion.

It is desirable to conceal the hinge means of the casket handle. Thus, a curved lip is provided on the casket handle disclosed herein for concealing the hinge means. The resulting casket handle provides a pleasing appearanceas well as a very-useful and low-cost handle. An additional advantage of this casket handle is that it may be shipped from the manufacturer toa location for attachment to a casket without any chance that the handle portion will be separated from the base portion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION One embodiment of the present invention is a casket handle hinge comprising a base member having aback surface, an arm having a top and bottom end and a flexible web integrally connected to the base member and to the arm between the top and the bottom end.

Another embodiment of the present invention is a casket handle hinge comprising a base member, first and secondarms having bottom ends, a first wall integrally connecting the first arm to the second arm in spaced relationship, and a second wall integrally connecting the first wall to the member and having a 'laterally extending necked down portion with the casket handle and base hingedly and integrally connected together.

It is an additional object of thepresent invention to provide such a casket handle which has a concealed and integral hinge.

Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a casket handle incorporating the present invention with the carrying bar shown in the lifting position.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 3 is the same view as FIG. 1 with the exception that the carrying bar is shown in theback position.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT For the purposes'of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawing and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

I Referring now more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a casket handle 10 having a base 11 with arms 12 and 13 integrally and hingedly connected thereto. Arms 12 and 13 are in spaced relationship and have bottom ends 17 attached .to carrying bar 14. Both ends of bar 14 are capped by knobs 15. Holes 16 are provided in base 11 for receiving fastening devices for securing the base to a casket side wall 40 as shown in FIG. 2. The drawings show a pair of arms with carrying bar 14 extending through the bottom arm ends; however, the present invention includes a casket handle having a single arm and also includes a casket handle having a number of arms greater than two. Carrying bar 14 and knobs 15 may be separate pieces from the arm or may be integrally formed with the arm.

The casket handle shown in the drawings may be made from a plastic material and as a result may be injection molded into one integral piece. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and viewed in the direction of the arrows illustrating the normal position of the arms and carrying bar with respect to the base 11 prior to attachment to a casket side wall. Carrying bar 14 is normally positioned on the back side 31 of base 11 prior to attachment of the base onto the casket side wall. The carrying bar and arms are pivotable in the direction of arrow 36 from the back position 33 to the vertical position 34 and further to the lifting position 35 (FIG. 2). In the normal unbiased position, the arms and carrying lbar remain in backposition 33. As a result, whenthe base isattached to a casket, the arms and carrying bar will normally abut the casket wall in vertical position 34 as partially shown by the dashed line illustration of FIG. .4. Thus, when the carrying barand handle are pivoted to the lifting position as shown in FIG. 2 and then released, the arms and carrying bar will pivot back to the vertical position abuttingthe casket side wall. A flexible hinge web 28 integrally connects the arms to the base. The arms are spaced apart and integrally connected by wall 19 which extends across thetop ends 18 of the arms. Web 28 (FIG. 4) is integrally joined to wall 19 at location 41. Web 28 extends the length of wall 19 and has a laterally extending groove 30 positioned on its front surface. A

and 30 provides a flexible wall for hingedly connecting wall 19 to base 11.

Base 11 has a wall 20 (FIGS. 3 and 4) with an outer surface 21 upon which may be impressed a suitable decorative design. Wall 20 is integrally connected to wall 37 which extends partially along the back of base 11. A curved lip 22 extendsoutward and downward from wall 37 and is integrally joined to wall 20. The front surface 38 of wall 37 provides a stopping surface for abuttingagainst surface 39 of wall 19 when the arms and carrying bar are pivoted to the lifting position 35 as shown in H0. 2. When in the lifting position 35, groove 30 is concealed by wall 19 and curved lip 22. Lip 22 .is spaced sufficiently from groove 30 so as to avoid interference between curved surface 25 (FIG. 4) and the top end of the arms and wall 19 as the arms are pivoted. Recess 27 extends from leg 23 to leg 24 which are integrally attached to the base and sufficiently spaced apart so as to allow the arms and wall 19 to pivot therein.

it will be evident from the above description that the present inventionprovides a casket handle having a base portion andhandle portion integrally connected together by means of a flexible wall. It will also be evident from the above description that the invention provides a casket handle which also conceals the hinge means when the handle is in the lifting position. For example, when surfaces 38 and 39 (FIG. 4) abut, groove 30 is closed and concealed with the bottom ends of the arms being positioned in front of base 11. The curved lip 22 together with wall 19 cooperatively conceal groove 30. The depth of grooves 29 and 30 will vary depending upon the particular casket handle to be produced; however, excellent results have been obtained when the necked down portion between grooves 29 and 30 is approximately one-half the thickness of web 28 at the junction of the web and wall 37.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.

The invention claimed is:

l. A casket handle hinge comprising:

a mountable base member having a rear mounting surface and a front outwardly facing stop surface;

first and second arms having bottom ends;

a carrying bar attached to said bottom ends;

a first wall integrally connecting said first arm to said second arm in spaced relationship, said first wall contacts said front stop surface when said bar is pivoted in front of said base member limiting further outward movement thereof; and,

a second wall integrally connecting said first wall to said member and having a laterally extending necked down portion, said second wall being flexible at said necked down portion and urging said bar behind said rear mounting surface;

said second wall has a front surface and back surface with a first laterally extending groove on said front surface at said portion and a second laterally extending groove on said back surface at said portion, said second groove is larger than said first groove.

2. The casket handle hinge of claim 1 wherein:

' said first wall contacts said stop surface closing and concealing said first groove when said arm is pivoted upwardly about said portion with said bottom ends positioned in front of said base member.

3. The casket handle hinge of claim 2 wherein:

said base has a curved lip above said first wall and said second wall and extending outward and downward from said stop surface, said lip cooperatively concealing with said first wall the said first groove when said bottom ends are positioned in front of said front stop surface.

4. The casket handle hinge of claim 3 wherein:

said second wall is plastic and said portion has a max .imum thickness of one-half the thickness of said second wall, said stop surface is arranged with respect to said mounting surface to distribute lifting force from said arms in a direction toward said mounting surface.

5. A casket handle hinge comprising:

a base member having a back surface;

an arm having a top end and a bottom end;

a handle connected to said bottom end of said arm;

a flexible web integrally connected to said base member and to said arm between said top end and said bottom end; and wherein:

said web has a first and second recess on the opposite sides of said web;

said base member has an outwardly facing stop surface and a curved upper lip projecting outward from said stop surface;

said arm is pivotable about said web to a lifting position whereat said top end of said arm abuts said stop surface above said first and second recess and said lip and said arm conceal said web with said handle therebelow.

6. The hinge of claim 5 wherein:

said outwardly facing stop surface is parallel with respect to said back surface to distribute lifting force applied to said handle through said arm and stop surface and evenly across said back surface; and,

said first recess is positioned on a back side of said web and is defined by a radius larger than a radius defining said second recess positioned on a front side of said web for normally urging said handle behind said back surface.

7. The hinge of claim 10 wherein:

said lip and said arm conceal said web when said handle is in front of said back surface; and further comprising:

a second arm spaced from said first arm and integrally connected thereto by said web extending therebetween, said first and second recess and said handle extending horizontally between said first arm and said second arm, said first arm plus said base member, said web and said handle being plastic.

8. The hinge of claim 7 wherein:

said base member includes apertures above and at the opposite ends of said web to receive fasteners for the secure mounting of said base member.

. UNITED STATES YPATENT OFFICE I r CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,698,037 Dated October 17, 1972 Inventofls) Bennhie R. Jehnson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

In eolumn 4, line 56, after the word "cleim" and before the'word "wherein" please change "10" to Signed anci sealed this 15th day of May 1973.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR. ROBERT GOTTSCHALK Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents FORM PO-1050 (10-69) USCO'MM-DC 60376-1 69 U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: I959 O-366 -334 

1. A casket handle hinge comprising: a mountable base member having a rear mounting surface and a front outwardly facing stop surface; first and second arms having bottom ends; a carrying bar attached to said bottom ends; a first wall integrally connecting said first arm to said second arm in spaced relationship, said first wall contacts said front stop surface when said bar is pivoted in front of said base member limiting further outward movement thereof; and, a second wall integrally connecting said first wall to said member and having a laterally extending necked down portion, said second wall being flexible at said necked down portion and urging said bar behind said rear mounting surface; said second wall has a front surface and back surface with a first laterally extending groove on said front surface at said portion and a second laterally extending groove on said back surface at said portion, said second groove is larger than said first groove.
 2. The casket handle hinge of claim 1 wherein: said first wall contacts said stop surface closing and concealing said first groove when said arm is pivoted upwardly about said portion with said bottom ends positioned in front of said base member.
 3. The casket handle hinge of claim 2 wherein: said base has a curved lip above said first wall and said second wall and extending outward and downward from said stop surface, said lip cooperatively concealing with said first wall the said first groove when said bottom ends are positioned in front of said front stop surface.
 4. The casket handle hinge of claim 3 wherein: said second wall is plastic and said portion has a maximum thickness of one-half the thickness of said second wall, said stop surface is arranged with respect to said mounting surface to distribute lifting force from said arms in a direction toward said mounting surface.
 5. A casket handle hinge comprising: a base member havIng a back surface; an arm having a top end and a bottom end; a handle connected to said bottom end of said arm; a flexible web integrally connected to said base member and to said arm between said top end and said bottom end; and wherein: said web has a first and second recess on the opposite sides of said web; said base member has an outwardly facing stop surface and a curved upper lip projecting outward from said stop surface; said arm is pivotable about said web to a lifting position whereat said top end of said arm abuts said stop surface above said first and second recess and said lip and said arm conceal said web with said handle therebelow.
 6. The hinge of claim 5 wherein: said outwardly facing stop surface is parallel with respect to said back surface to distribute lifting force applied to said handle through said arm and stop surface and evenly across said back surface; and, said first recess is positioned on a back side of said web and is defined by a radius larger than a radius defining said second recess positioned on a front side of said web for normally urging said handle behind said back surface.
 7. The hinge of claim 10 wherein: said lip and said arm conceal said web when said handle is in front of said back surface; and further comprising: a second arm spaced from said first arm and integrally connected thereto by said web extending therebetween, said first and second recess and said handle extending horizontally between said first arm and said second arm, said first arm plus said base member, said web and said handle being plastic.
 8. The hinge of claim 7 wherein: said base member includes apertures above and at the opposite ends of said web to receive fasteners for the secure mounting of said base member. 